A child proudly brings home a drawing from school. Many parents immediately respond with enthusiastic praise: "That's beautiful!" "You're such a great artist!" "Wow! You're amazing!" The intention is loving. Most parents simply want their child to feel good about themselves. But what if there's a better response? The Hidden Problem with Constant Praise When children repeatedly hear evaluations from adults, they can begin looking outside themselves to determine how they should feel about their own work. Instead of asking: "What do I think about this?" They begin asking: "What do you think about this?" Over time, children may become motivated by approval rather than personal satisfaction, effort, growth, or pride. The challenge comes later in life when someone doesn't approve. The child who has learned to depend on praise can be crushed by criticism. A Different Approach Imagine the same child showing you a drawing. ...
Words of wisdom and advice from behavior expert, author, and professional speaker, Bill Corbett
